Words
that healOpposition
leaders Ranil Wickremasinhe's positive response to President Chandrika
Kumaratunga's address at the opening of the Parliament should have brought
back to many minds this nugget of perennial wisdom. Mr. Wickremasinhe was
quoted to as saying that the Presidents speech was friendly and
conciliatory and devoid of the usual attacks on the opposition. He had
described the Presidents speech as a "good bridge-building
exercise". It is regardless of whether a 'national government'
eventually materialises or not, we certainly need a new political culture,
which engenders a spirit of co-operation, mutual trust and accommodation.

Resuscitation
of saarc?Today after
two years, a meeting of SAARC officials is scheduled to take place in
Colombo. This organisation was paralysed two years ago, when India refused
to attend the Summit scheduled to be held in Nepal on the grounds of
military government taking over in Pakistan and allegations of Pakistan
sending in terrorists into Kashmir.India's
objections to a military government taking over in Pakistan is certainly
not a valid reason for boycotting SAARC, the SAARC chapter accepting the
principles of non-interference in the internal affairs of member states.Composition of this seven-member organisation with giant India at
the centre and six small countries around it makes India's participation
absolutely essential. India reviving SAARC will not be enough if this
regional grouping- in a globalised world where regionalisation is a sine
qua non- is to mean anything to South Asians.India has to play a leading role.

JVP
should show the wayIn a fierce
opposition to any form of devolution of power to the periphery as a
solution to the ethnic conflict, the JVP has mounted a scathing attack on
Norway, which is making an effort to bring Velupillai Prabhakaran to the
negotiating table. It has accused Norway of many things including
deception.It has accused
them of attempting to plunge Sri Lanka into more division and bloodshed
and asked Norwegians to stop forthwith interfering in the internal affairs
of this country. It is true that Norway played a god father role to the
LTTE. But Norway alone did not play this role. All these countries helped
and encouraged not only LTTE members, but also all Tamils who fled Sri
Lanka complaining of discrimination and harassment. During the recent
times with the global campaign against terrorism gathering momentum, most
democratic states stopped the direct supply of arms to these groups. It
must not be forgotten that during the US-USSR cold war days, Soviet Union
was in the forefront, actively supporting all movements that claimed to be
engaged in liberation struggles. Can the JVP boast of an exemplary past.
It is with the Sri Lankan government that the JVP should take up the
matter of the Norwegian mediation in our ethnic problem.

Are
there any barriers in capturing those involved in terror in the
plantations? Some Tamil
politician are obstructing the Police in making arrest in connection with
the terror that occurred in the Plantations. Attention of responsible
persons of the state on this matter would be appreciated.There were reports of arson, robbery and damage to property and
physical harm in the plantations some days ago. It is stated that Tamil
politicians present themselves at police stations to secure the release of
those arrested. About 1000 persons were involved in these incidents of
violence, among them were members of Plantation organisations and persons
from outside areas as Colombo. Intervening to protect a person of being
arrested is a serious offence. These incidents occurred on the guise of
the Bindunuwewa Rehabilitation Camp massacre. The situation in the
plantations was brought under control with the Security forces moving in
to these areas. There could have been LTTE activists among the attackers.
Daily activities of the masses in these areas were crippled. The National
economy too had to suffer as a result. It is surprising to observe a
handful of politicians manipulating events in this manner. Some police
officers have to bow to these politicians. We hope that government would
take appropriate action before it is too late.

Stir
the milk ocean and shared elixir Hundreds of
JVP activists demonstrated at Rajagiriya while the Parliament was
ceremonially being declared open. They did not demand anything for
themselves or the party, they demonstrated against the appointment of 79
cabinet ministers in this small island, which is in severe economic
regression.Among the 225 members in parliament 109 are from the ruling
party, 79 of them are ministers. These 79 ministers have to provide with
official residences, vehicles, secretaries and private staff and
bullet-proof cars, salaries and other allowances. For a country as ours
this is as maintaining a White Elephant. The JVP has demanded the
reduction in the number of Ministers.They inquire as to whether taxes are paid by the public to maintain
the Ministers.It is not only
the JVP but all other political parties and the general public raises this
issue. We observe this situation as stirring the proverbial sea and
sharing the elixir among them. However the poor people of this country
have to pay for them.

Violence
among university students The situation
in Universities is not cohesive.Students
have devised into factions and are revolting against each other. Under
these circumstances the University of Sri Jayawardenepura had to be closed
down until further notice. Academic activities of the University of
Peradeiya are also at standstill.We
cannot hide the fact that violence at these universities is manipulated by
the JVP. This has been organised prior to the Student Union election of
the University Of Sri Jayawardenepura and the JVP is aware that it will be
loosing the forthcoming election.According
the to Vice Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya, student unions
have broken the undertakings given to the University administration at
union meetings. Students are protesting against the expulsion of students
for indulging in inhuman ragging. Members of other students' groups have
been physically harmed and academic and non-academic staff had been
attacked. University property too had been damaged. These groups of
students are dedicated to the JVP organisation and are vying for it at the
next university election.